The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is ravaging the earth and economic and social restrictions continue with no end in sight. As of April 26, COVID-19 has infected over 3 million people globally and killed almost 207,000.
There has never been a more challenging time for business than the one we are currently facing. In addition to following Government Guidance and taking the necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, as a business owner and employer you will be facing many logistic and financial problems as you navigate your way through this crisis. Read about 5 common COVID business challenges and how to solve them -
1. How can I ensure my building premises are safe whilst all my staff are furloughed?
The world is facing an unprecedented attack at present with the spread of COVID -19. Business owners are having to adapt their working practises with the focus being on ensuring, as much as possible, that “it’s business as usual.” The successful transition of staff to home working mitigates the first, immediate threat but all eyes should be on loss prevention and risk management of properties that have become unoccupied.
Properties that are left empty are vulnerable to fire, water damage, vandalism, and theft. A Vacant Property Inspection can reduce the risks associated with unoccupied buildings, ensuring that the building remains safe and secure and any damage is rectified quickly, before it becomes a major issue. Though there is no legal requirement for a Vacant Property Inspection, most insurance companies will insist that weekly inspections take place for insurance cover to continue.
What does a VPI involve?
A professional security agent will visit the building at pre-defined times to check for defects. A typical visit will involve visual checks to both the inside and outside of the building, utility meter reads to make sure there is no unauthorised use of gas, electricity and water and a full interior inspection to check for squatters, evidence of theft and any signs of illegal access. Once the inspection has been carried out a full report, including meter readings and photographic evidence will be sent to the building owner.
Kingdom Service Group provide a practical, cost effective and visible property inspection service for low risk sites along with an Intrusion and Repair Management Support solution, through an approved national supplier, to deal with any property damage requiring boarding, glazing or a locksmith.
In order to strategize effectively and implement a constructive plan to deal with site operations, during the COVID-19 lockdown and beyond, a good starting point is to list all the site operational challenges you are facing. Once you have considered the problems and varied operational scenarios, find and contract with a company like Kingdom Services Group who have the ability and skill to deal with a whole range of site operations including security, cleaning and recruitment. Engaging with a professional operations team will ensure that your contingency plans are successfully executed in a way that is cost effective, compliant and labour reductive.
The answer to this one is simple – hire a commercial cleaning contractor.
Coronavirus is predominately spread through hand contact and regular deep cleaning of business space will be crucial to both keep your employees safe and ensure that they are confident in your commitment to providing a safe working environment. An initial cleaning audit of your business premises will identify the high touch areas such as doorknobs, lights switches and all surfaces which will require disinfecting.
Cleaning professionals will perform a site survey, look at all the tasks required and weigh these up against the frequencies and square footage. A thorough survey will enable time planning and cost-effective use of cleaning materials and results that you can measure and control.
While Coronavirus is contagious, several cleaning products available can help mitigate it. Currently, there are no tests measuring the success of cleaning products against 2019-nCoV, but professional cleaning companies who will have previously had experiences with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV (both of which are previously identified Coronavirus’s) will understand what products will work.
Theft and vandalism propose an increased risk when a property becomes unoccupied. Buildings that are unoccupied such as commercial premises that are currently out of use due to COVID-19 will still be home to stock, machinery, and expensive equipment. This presents a prime opportunity for theft, especially for buildings that are out of town centres and will not benefit form a strong police presence.
Looting, a different ball game, fuelled by need, opportunity and thrill seeking and happens because the opportunity exists, and people are experiencing high levels of hardship and lack of resources.
Guarding, from foot patrols to CCTV surveillance, if not already in place, should be a serious consideration as part of risk mitigation during this pandemic. Presenting the appearance that a building is looked after and has surveillance in place will lessen the chances of crime and will protect you in respect of your legal responsibilities – you may be legally liable if someone injures themselves on your property, even a trespasser.
Buildings that do not have visible surveillance monitoring are particularly vulnerable to theft and looting. Even something as simple as unkept landscaping could send the message that there is no one watching the building. Visual security clues, such as the presence of security guards and noticeable security cameras and surveillance signage are major deterrents and security alarms which connect directly to a rapid response team will ensure swift reaction to a disturbance.
A CCTV Tower is a surveillance solution which provides closed-circuit television to record the activity at your chosen premises. CCTV PYZ uses the latest technology to produce high definition images which are then sent directly to a monitoring station. You can then view these images remotely using a mobile device. The CCTV system has additional audio capability which allows for simultaneous communication with intruders and has the technology to escalate any incident to local support teams.
A CCTV Tower is Ideal for a temporary location or as a cost saving solution in response to an unplanned situation such as COVID-19. You can rent a tower directly from Kingdom Services Group on a weekly basis, either temporarily or longer term.
COVID-19 is both a global health and economy threat. As a business owner who operates from premises which will need to be shut down during this crisis, implications to core structures previously relied upon such as risk assessment, security and insurance will be huge. Returning to work will also be challenging, especially with regards to implications regarding safety and cleaning. If you would like more information and guidance on risk mitigation, security solutions or local authority support please get in touch at our National Support Centre Tel: 0845 051 7700